Control of frequency and/or phase characteristic in an (audio) amplifier

Abstract: A circuit for controlling frequency and/or phase response characteristic of a signal amplification system or channel has a serial architecture composed of a plurality of cells and a selector for deriving the signal after any one of the cascaded cells. At least a component of the RC network of each cell is in the form of a plurality of modules of fractionary value connected in series. A short-circuiting switch is associated with each module of fractionary value and the overall effect may be selected by selecting the derivation node of the output signal and a certain configuration of the short-circuiting switches of the RC networks of the various cells. An outstanding flexibility of selection is achieved.

Description: The present invention as it is defined in the appended claims relates to a circuit for controlling the frequency and/or phase response of a signal amplication system, particularly for audio systems, for implementing equalization functions and/or for creating special effects in audio reproduction, as for example the so-called "surround" effect in stereo systems. The document "Patent Abstracts of Japan", vol. 17, n° 494 (E-1428), 7 september 1993 discloses such a circuit. The complex equalization requirements in analog signal amplification systems, for compensating intrinsic frequency response characteristics of system's components and/or for craftly optimizing frequency and/or phase response characteristics of the amplification system and/or for realizing special effects, as for example the so-called surround effect in stereo audio systems, commonly raise the need of implementing a plurality of circuit blocks for modifying the transfer characteristics, the effect of which may be specifically selected or deselected in order to obtain a certain overall result. Commonly, in audio apparatuses of relatively compact size, for example in magnetic tape or compact disc playback apparatuses to be installed in cars or portable systems, so-called nested, serial architectures (in terms of signal path) are preferred because they are less burdensome in terms of circuit complexity and introduced distorsion than equivalent parallel architectures. Parallel architectures do in fact require multipliers along the signal path that tend to introduce a second harmonic distorsion, which is particularly noxious in audio systems. On the other hand, the need of limiting the number of components external to an integrated circuit and at the same time of reducing the size of the integrated circuit itself, favors the use of nested serial structures, wherein the signal being treated may selectively be derived from any point of a chain of circuit blocks of equalization/modification cells of the frequency and/or phase response characteristic of the amplification system. Depending from the type of effect that should be produced by the nested serial modification structure, the latter may comprise a series of purely phase-shifting cells and/or of emphasis (amplifying) or de-emphasis (attenuating) cells. An important example of these systems is represented by the circuits used for implementing a so-called "surround" effect in stereo audio systems. In this case, the audio signal, in transfer through one of the stereo channels undergoes a phase-shift at certain frequencies of the audio spectrum according to a selected surround mode. The signal passes through a series of blocks or cells, each containing a phase-shifting circuits having a certain transfer characteristic, that is a certain cut-off frequency of intervention, commonly determined by an RC network. The conditioned signal may be tapped from any point of the chain of phase-shifting cells, selectably by the operator. Such a system is schematically shown in Fig. 1. Of course, the single phase-shifting (or frequency response modifying) cells may have a specific configuration. Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show different filter and/or phase-shifting cells, which may be used according to needs in equalization systems and/or for implementing certain effects. Basically, each cell comprises an RC circuit suitable to establish a certain frequency and/or phase-shifting response (i.e. a certain transfer function). As depicted in Fig. 1, selection of the "tapping" point of the signal from anyone of the chain of (nested) cells, permits to select a certain overall modifying or optimizing characteristic, in terms of frequency and/or phase response, for the relative channel or amplification system. In the case of a nested serial circuit, suitable to implement a "surround" effect in a stereo audio system, each phase-shifting cell may consist in a circuit as the one shown in Fig. 2. On the other hand, in an audio system frequencies are those of the so-called audio band (i.e. a low frequency spectrum) and therefore such frequency and/or phase response modifying circuits normally require the use of large capacitors that are commonly connected externally to the integrated circuit, or special capacitance multiplying circuits are integrated in order to limit the number of external components. Commonly, in known systems, each cell is designed so as to produce a certain effect which, singularly or in combination with the effect produced by other selected cells of the chain, permits to achieve a certain overall effect on the frequency and/or phase response characteristics of the amplifier, by selecting the point at which is signal is derived (tapped) for further processing. In the case of nested serial structures, an overall optimization of the chain in its whole restrains the posibility of a specific optimization of the single cells, because the single cell characteristics must be combinable on each other for producing a certain overall effect, selectable among different combinations made possible by a selector. Such an aspect of nested serial systems of the known type implies limitations and drawbacks both in terms of performance as well as in terms of a reduced flexibility of regulation. Normally, in integrated systems, the value of integrated resistances dictates the choice of the value of the external capacitor or capacitors of the RC network of the various cells. Therefore, varying the value of the externally connected component (commonly a capacitor) of a certain cell for optimizing its characteristics, implies a modification of the response characteristics relative to various combinations of the same cell with other cells of the nested chain. Whenever such limitations of nested serial systems is untolerable, the problem is commonly avoided by renouncing to a nested serial structure (notwithstanding its convenience) for a parallel structure, though more costly and likely to introduce armonic distorsion problems. There is a clear need or utility for a circuit for adjusting the frequency and/or phase response characteristics of a signal amplification system, which, though retaining a nested serial architecture, has an improved flexibility of regulation or optimization, comparable to that of a parallel system. This objective is fully achieved by the circuit made in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized by the fact that virtually at least a component of the RC circuit of each cell of a nested serial structure, is realized in the form of a plurality of components having a fractionary value of a certain design value of the component, connected in series to each other, associated with a plurality of by-pass switches, each of which is functionally capable of shortcircuiting at least one of said components of fractionary value. The configuration of the by-pass switches is controlled by a dedicated control circuit programmable by the operator. Thus each cell may be individually optimized each cell, independently from the others, Moreover, an extremely large number of response characteristics, determined both by the selection of the tapping point of the signal of the nested serial chain as well as from the configuration of these switches of the RC networks of each of the cells that are functionally active along the signal path, for a certain combination, may be implemented. The different aspects and advantages of the system of the invention will become more evident through the following description of several important embodiments and by referring to the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a diagram of a nested serial system of modification/optimization of the frequency and/or phase response characteristics of a certain amplifying system or channel; Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6 show circuits suitable for implementing single cells of the nested serial system of signal processing of Fig. 1, that may be used depending on the type of effects that are required; Figure 7 shows a phase-shifting cell, functionally similar to the cell of Fig. 2, modified according to the present invention; Figure 8 shows an emphasis (amplifying) or deemphasis (attenuating) cell, functionally similar to the cell of Fig. 4, but employing an integrated capacitance suitably multiplied by a capacitance multiplier circuit, the ratio of which may be programmed by the operator, according to the present invention. Object of the invention is a circuit for controlling a frequency and/or phase of response characteristics of a signal amplification channel or system having a nested serial architecture comprising a plurality of phase-shifting and/or emphasis and/or de-emphasis cells, as schematically depicted in Fig. 1. Of course the available selection options may also be different from the one depicted in Fig. 1, by employing a different selector or functionally similar selection circuits. It is important to underline that the sample electrical diagrams shown in the figures have a purely illustrative purpose and they should not be intended as limiting to the specific examples the field of application of the device and/or the process of the invention. As already said above, depending on the effects that are sought, the nested serial system for signal processing, may employ cells of different type, examples of which are shown in Figures 2-6. In the case of a system designed to produce a so-called surround effect during stereophonic play back the circuit may employ a plurality of phase-shifting cells, for example of the type shown in Fig. 2. A cell or circuit of this type is substantially a pass-all filter, capable of introducing phase-shift in a frequency band centered on a certain frequency f 0 of the audio spectrum, which is determined by: f 0 = 1 2πRC Basically, each of the various cells will have its own cut-off or center frequency of intervention and the respective frequencies may be distributed, according to said criteria, throughtout the audio band. The particular selection by the operator, of the point from which the signal is derived, will determine the selection of a certain surround effect, among a plurality of selectable effects. The cells shown in Figures 3 and 4, are clearly bi-quadratic cells (i.e. cells having a transfer function that comprises quadratic functions both in the numerator and in the denominator). These cells substantially have a bell-shaped frequency response characteristic (pass-band) and are commonly employed in audio processors for implementing for example a tone control function, or the like. The transfer functions of cells 3 and 4 are substantially similar. The cell shown in Fig. 5 has a transfer function showing a frequency response characteristic of the pass-band type and a gain lower for or equal to unity. This type of cell is commonly employed in de-emphasis (attenuating) circuits. The cell of Fig. 6 shows a typical emphasis (amplifying) circuit for high frequency tones (i.e. having the characteristic of a high-pass filter) suitable to produce a in-band gain greater than unity. A sample embodiment of the invention is schematically depicted in Fig. 7. Functionally, the cell of Fig. 7 is equivalent to the cell of Fig. 2. It represents a phase-shifting circuit of the pass-all type (i.e. having a substantially flat frequency response characteristic), which may be used in a circuit for creating a surround effect in a stereophonic play back system, as already mentioned above. According to an embodiment of the invention, each cell (CELL1, CELL2, CELL3, ..., CELLn) of the nested serial circuit of Fig. 1, may have a circuit similar to the one depicted in Fig. 7. The integrated component of the RC network (in the specific instance the resistance R), which determines the central frequency f 0 , is realized in the form of a plurality of integrated resistances: r1, r2, r3, ..., rN, in series to each other. Each resistance has a fractionary value as referred to a certain design value of the resistance R. Connected in parallel with each fractionary component, there is an integrated by-pass switch (S1, S2, S3, ..., SN), which may be controlled by the operator by programming or selection from a control panel. The driving circuit of the by-pass switches is not shown in the circuit diagrams of the figures, and may be easily realized in any suitable manner, as will be immediately clear to any skilled person. In this way, the cut-off or central frequency f 0 of each cell of the nested serial system of cells (Fig. 1) may be independently optimized, that is may be varied by the operator within a certain range, by setting the state of the by-pass switches S1, S2, S3, ..., SN, in order to determine a certain effective value of the resistance R of the RC network of the cell. The whole nested serial system, as schematically depicted in Fig. 1, assumes a surprising flexibility. In other words, an extremely large number of possible combinations are created, which will be relatively minimum when deriving the signal after the "first" few cells of the series and maximum when deriving the signal after the "last" cell of the series (CELLn). If the circuit of Fig. 1 comprises a number n of cells, and each cell (Fig. 7) is realized with a number N of configurable modules of resistance, the user will have available a number of combinations, that is a number of distinct effects that may be freely selected, given by: Of course, the by-passable modules of resistance: r1, r2, r3, ..., rN, as well as the by-pass switches: S1, S2, S3, SN, may be advantageously integrated. The configuring switches S1, S2, S3, . .. SN, may be digitally controlled and therefore they may be realized with simple "transfer gates" which, if correctly dimensioned, will not penalyse the system in terms of noise and/or distorsion. The circuit diagram of Fig. 8 shows a bi-quadratic cell, having a pass-band frequency response characteristic, that may be designed for producing either an attenuation or an amplification of the signal within the band, and which is functionally similar to the cell depicted in Fig. 4. The capacitance C of the RC network of the signal is, in the shown example of Fig. 8, constituted by an integrated capacitance Ci, having a relatively small value, suitably multiplied by a dedicated, integrated, capacitance-multiplying circuit. As will be evident to a technician, the equivalent capacitance C provided by the capacitance multiplier is given by: C=Ci·(R1/R2) . According to the present invention, one of the two branches (R1) of the voltage divider R1-R2, of the capacitance multiplying circuit, is realized in the form of a plurality of integrated resistances having a fractionary value: r1, r2 and r3, each resistance module being shortcircuitable through a respective integrated switch: S1, S2, S3. Also in this case, a nested serial system (Fig. 1), composed of a plurality of cells having a circuit as shown in Fig. 8, permits to "multiply" the number of selectable combinations in order to obtain as many different response characteristics. The invention is particularly useful in systems and apparatuses that necessarily must have a low cost and a high level of compactness, as in the case of portable and car playback and radio systems. In these cases, considerations of cost, complexity and size of the integrated devices tend to exclude the option of adopting a parallel architecture and in these circumstances the present invention permits to achieve a surprisingly high flexibility of regulation while keeping low cost, complexity and size of the integrated circuits that make up the audio processor. Elimination of external components (commonly capacitors) that is generally sought by manufacturers of electronic apparatuses, in the specific case of circuits for equalization/modification of the response characteristics, does not jeopardize the possibility of the manufacturer of the apparatus to implement specific default conditions, for example by establishing default configurations of the switches of the single cells of the nested serial system, which will account for the peculiar characteristics of other components of the sound reproduction apparatus. Such a customizing, which commonly was made possible by choosing the values of the externally connected capacitors, is more accurately and easily implementable in a system of the invention by simply defining one or even more advantageously several selectable default configurations of the by-pass switches of the single cells (RC networks of the cells). Naturally, several alternative embodiments are possible. In particular, an advantageous capacitance-multiplying circuit that may be usefully employed for implementing RC networks of single cells of a system made in accordance with the present invention, is described in a prior European patent application No. 92830419.5, filed on July 28, 1992, by the same applicant.

Claims: A frequency and/or phase response characteristic control circuit for a signal amplification system or channel, comprising a plurality of emphasis and/or de-emphasis and/or phase-shifting cells, each having a specific RC network capable of determining a certain response characteristic, connected in cascade, and at least a selector capable of selecting a node among a plurality of selectable nodes of said chain of cascaded cells from where deriving a signal, characterized by the fact that at least a component of said RC network of said cells is in the form a series of modules of a fractionary value as referred to a certain design value of the component, connected in series; and further comprising: a plurality of by-pass switches, each being capable of shortcircuiting at least one of said modules of fractionary value; means for configuring the state of said switches. A circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal amplification system is an audio system and the capacitors of said RC networks of said cells are discrete components externally connected to an integrated circuit of the amplification system and said modules of fractionary value of one component of said RC network of said cells, said switches and said configuring means are integrated. A circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein all the components of said RC networks of said cells are integrated. A circuit according to claim 3, wherein said amplification system is an audio system and at least a capacitor of said RC network of a cell is functionally composed of an integrated capacitance and an integrated capacitance-multiplying circuit, the multiplication factor of which is established by a resistive voltage divider, a resistance of which constitutes said component partitioned in modules, the effective value of which is set by a certain configuration of said by-pass switches.

Inventors: ONETTI ANDREA MARIO, TONELLA MAURIZIO, ONETTI, ANDREA MARIO, TONELLA, MAURIZIO
Applicants: ST MICROELECTRONICS SRL, STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H03G5
IPC codes: H03G5, H03G1, H03H11